The biggest of the fires, including the Witch fire, east of San Diego, the Harris fire, along the Mexican border, and the Santiago Canyon fire, in Orange County, are only 30 percent contained and continue to expand their destruction. Arson is expected in two of the fires.

About 1,800 homes have been destroyed, mostly in San Diego and San Bernardino counties, and some 28,000 homes are still in danger. Conservative estimates place the number of evacuated over the last five days at more than 500,000, the largest mass evacuation in the history of this state.

The official death toll is now stands at 17, including 7 who died in the evacuation. On Thursday, the charred bodies of 4 people believed to be undocumented immigrants were found in a canyon east of San Diego. Dozens more have been admitted to area burn centers. The number of injured rose to 85 on Friday, including at least 61 firefighters.

The evacuated are slowly being allowed to go home, many finding their homes reduced to ashes. Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers football team, which at one point sheltered 15,000 evacuees, is down to 700. Some of these people have been transferred to other shelters in an attempt to empty the stadium for this Sunday’s game against Houston.

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